The Latest Breaking News from the Defense Ministry

Tokyo Prepares to Shoot Down NKorea Satellite if it Falls on Japan

Japan's Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada on Saturday ordered the country's military to prepare to shoot down a North Korean spy satellite should it fall within Japan's territory. Hamada ordered the Self-Defense Forces to make necessary preparations as he could potentially "order the destruction of ballistic missiles", the Defense Ministry said…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Apr 22, 2023

Iran Army Gets 200 New 'Strategic' Drones

Iran's defense ministry has delivered the army with more than 200 new drones equipped with missile capabilities and electronic warfare systems, state media reported on Thursday. In a ceremony broadcast on television, Defense Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani handed over "more than 200 long-range strategic drones" to army chief Abdolrahim Mousavi, the…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Apr 21, 2023

ASDF fighter jets scrambled 778 times in fiscal 2022

Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets scrambled 778 times in fiscal 2022 against foreign military aircraft and objects that could have violated Japan's airspace, according to the Defense Ministry. This is 226 fewer scrambles than in the previous fiscal year.

The Japan News/Yomiuri · Apr 19, 2023

Russia launches drills of its nuclear missile forces

The Russian military is conducting drills of its strategic missile forces in a show of the country’s massive nuclear capability amid the fighting in Ukraine

The Independent UK · Mar 29, 2023

North Korea launches 2 ballistic missiles / Land outside of Japan's EEZ

North Korea launched two ballistic missiles northeastward from its west coast early Monday morning, the Defense Ministry said.

The Japan News/Yomiuri · Mar 27, 2023

Russia to award pilots involved in US drone incident

Russia's Defense Ministry says fighter pilots involved in an incident with a U.S. drone that resulted in its crash will be given state awards

The Independent UK · Mar 17, 2023